March 2013

The Wakefield Fire Department responded to 267 emergency incidents during the month of March including 35 box alarms and 232 still alarms.

The Department responded to five requests for mutual aid during March, twice to Lynn, and once each to Reading, Saugus and Lynnfield. It received mutual aid four times in March, three times from Stoneham and once from Reading. Wakefield Engine 2 covered Reading Fire Headquarters during a fire in that community on the afternoon of March 2. A crew under the command of Lt. Robert Taggart covered a vacant Lynn fire station during a fire in that city on the evening of March 3. Engine 2 covered a vacant Lynnfield fire station during a 2-alarm fire on Lowell Street in that community on March 12. Lt. Brian Purcell and a crew from Engine 2 assisted the Saugus Fire Department 2-alarm fire at 17 Taylor Street in Saugus on the evening of March 20. Wakefield Engine 2 returned to the City of Lynn during an early morning 3-alarm fire in that city on March 25.

Wakefield firefighters under the command of Captain Randy Hudson responded to a stove top kitchen fire at 93 Albion Street on March 10. The fire was contained to the immediate area of the stove and some adjoining cabinets. The fire started when cooking oil on the top of the stove overheated and ignited. The residents of this group home were displaced for a short period while the home was cleaned up. There were no reported injuries.

The same group of firefighters responded to another potentially serious fire at 9 Nichols Street on March 16. The fire, ignited by hot ashes placed inside a plastic recycling bin, extended to some nearby combustibles and exterior siding of the home before being extinguished. There were no injuries and no one was displaced as a result of the fire.

Captain Hudson’s group was called into action a third time in March when they responded to a reported house fire at 22 Ledgewood Road on March 22. Firefighters arrived to find a fire inside a flue pipe for a wood pellet stove. The flue was taken apart and the fire was confined to the area of the pellet stove. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries at this fire as well.

All groups have initiated their on-line Emergency Medical Technician refresher training that they will be continuing for the next several months. This 24 hour class is a required part of the continuing education for an Emergency Medical Technician and must be completed every two years. A Girl Scout troop received an informative tour during a visit to fire headquarters on March 16.

Incident Response Report

Fire Prevention Report